Top Al Sadr Aide Arrested

Iraqi government forces, along with American troops raided a house in Eastern Baghdad and arrested one of the top aides to thug Moqtada al Sadr just after midnight on Friday. One Mahdi Army guard was killed in the operation that seized Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji, Sadr's media director in Baghdad. (Which actually says a lot about the situation over there. A thug militia guilty of murdering thousands has a media director.)

Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji, Sadr's media director in Baghdad, was arrested at a house in the eastern neighborhood of Baladiyat, said Abdul Razak al-Nadawi, a spokesman for Sadr. The spokesman said one of Sadr's guards was killed during the operation. The house is adjacent to a mosque, the spokesman said. At least two other men were taken into custody, according to the U.S. military.

Nadawi said Sadr "condemns the operation," and has asked supporters to take to the streets after the Friday prayer to protest the arrest.

"After that we will take dangerous decisions that will not have any benefits for the country," the spokesman warned.

Darraji is suspected of participating in the assassination of Iraqi security force members and politicians, according to a statement issued by the U.S. military.

"The suspect allegedly leads various illegal armed group operations and is affiliated with illegal armed group cells targeting Iraqi civilians for sectarian attacks and violence," the statement says.

Nadawi said: "The American strategy now is to arrest all the Sadr leaders; they are not fighting them because Mahdi Army is not fighting."

Next up: Sadr himself. Watch for Moqtada to rabbit for the Iranian border very soon. If he hasn't already. The change in American tactics is having some positive results already. The stripping away of political protection for Sadr and his gang is having an immediate, positive effect.